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Faith

Obama Puts Another Twist on His Upcoming Presidential Oath (This One Involves the Bible)

Jan. 10, 2013 6:53am Billy Hallowell

WASHINGTON (TheBlaze/AP) — President Barack Obama is putting a symbolic twist on a time-honored tradition, taking the oath of office for his second term with his hand placed not on a single Bible, but two — one owned by Martin Luther King Jr. and one by Abraham Lincoln. Earlier this week, his historic selection of a woman who is not a clergy person to deliver his inaugural invocation also made headlines (this is the first time a female and a person who is not a faith leader has been selected).

The inclusion of King’s Bible in the oath process is particularly significant since the inauguration comes on Jan. 21, the federal holiday in honor of the civil rights leader, who delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech 50 years ago at the Lincoln Memorial. Obama will be facing the memorial as he takes the oath. King’s Bible, which his children say he used early in his career as a preacher, has never been part of a presidential inauguration.

Obama to Take Oath Using Abraham Lincoln & Martin Luther Kings Bibles

Barack Obama, left, joined by his wife Michelle, takes the oath of office from Chief Justice John Roberts to become the 44th president of the United States at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., in this Jan. 20, 2009 file photo. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

The selection of the pair of Bibles is richly symbolic of the struggle for equality in America, beginning with Lincoln’s emancipation of the slaves through King’s civil rights movement and ultimately to Obama becoming the nation’s first black president. Inaugural planners say Obama plans to place his left hand on the stacked Bibles held by first lady Michelle Obama as he raises his right hand to repeat the oath administered by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. It hasn’t been determined which will be on top with Obama’s hand actually resting on it, but King’s is larger so it may need to be on the bottom.

Obama used the Lincoln Bible while taking the oath four years ago — the first time it had been used since the 16th president’s inauguration in 1861. Obama’s inaugural committee says that the president plans to use the first lady’s family’s Bible for a private swearing-in at the White House on Sunday, Jan. 20. Public presidential inaugurations traditionally aren’t held on Sundays, even though the Constitution states that a president’s new term begins automatically at noon on the 20th.

King’s children describe their father’s King James version as his “traveling Bible” that he took as part of a collection of books he carried with him while constantly on the road and used for inspiration and preparing sermons and speeches. His daughter Bernice King says her father marked the pages with several dates from May 1954, the same month he delivered his first sermon at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Ala.

Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. (Photo Credit: AP)

“We know our father would be deeply moved to see President Obama take the oath of office using his Bible,” King’s children said in a statement provided by the inaugural committee. “His traveling Bible inspired him as he fought for freedom, justice and equality, and we hope it can be a source of strength for the president as he begins his second term.”

Obama also plans to honor King throughout his inaugural weekend, beginning by asking Americans to volunteer in their communities on Saturday, Jan. 19, to honor the civil right leader’s legacy of service. The King family plans to participate. Inaugural planners also say there will be a float honoring King in the parade to the White House after the swearing-in ceremony.

Though there is no constitutional requirement for the use of a Bible while taking the oath, George Washington began the tradition with a Bible hastily grabbed from St. John’s Masonic Lodge No. 1 for his swearing-in on April 30, 1789, in New York. Since then, presidents have typically chosen Bibles with historical or personal significance, many using family heirlooms. Obama is not the first president to select two Bibles — Harry Truman did so in 1949, Dwight Eisenhower in 1953 and Richard Nixon in 1969.

Some presidents kiss the book after completing the oath. Sometimes the Bible is open to meaningful passages, such as President George W. Bush’s choice of Isaiah 40:31 – “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

President Barack Obama (left) and President Abraham Lincoln (right) (Photo Credit: AP)

The Lincoln Bible is part of the Library of Congress collections. The Supreme Court clerk bought the Bible, bound in burgundy velvet with a gold-washed white metal rim and heavily gilded edges, especially for Lincoln’s swearing-in.

The first lady’s Robinson family Bible was a gift from her late father, Fraser Robinson III, to his mother, LaVaughn Delores Robinson, on Mother’s Day 1958. The first lady’s grandmother was the first black female manager of a Moody Bible Institute’s bookstore, and her son’s present was her favorite, inaugural planners say.

They also say Vice President Joe Biden will use a Bible with a Celtic cross on the cover that has been in his family for 120 years. Biden has used the Bible every time he’s been sworn into federal office, back to his entry in the Senate 40 years ago.

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Related:

Obama’s Inaugural Invocation Pick Breaks With 200+ Years of American Tradition

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

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Comments (340)

zoro51
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 9:35am
once a SOCIALIST always a SOCIALIST hating america CURTAILING OUR CONSTITUTIONAL FREEDOMS.. a WEAK leadership filled with CRONIES.. so corrupt. hates american oil coal PANDERD to many FAILED in all. LIED about beghazi travon martian CARES NOT FOR AMERICA but HIS GOLF N VACATIONS MORE.. IMPEACH THIS PIECE OF CRAP end the RAPE OF AMERICA

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pennswoods
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 9:34am
O”You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away people’s initiative and independence. You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.” –Abraham Lincoln

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- ChiefGeorge
  Posted on January 10, 2013 at 9:38am
  He knows all this, his trying to destroy this country so he can rebuild it in his own image.
  
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sickofthelibs
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 9:32am
Showpony…I want to see what goes on in the 1st swearing in on 1/20, not the “scripted for public” one on 1/21. yah… If anyone still trusts him..you really should get yourself checked for mental issues.

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PDfromToledo
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 9:29am
He could put his hand on 100 bibles including Jesus’s and it wouldn’t change my thoughts on him. Liar Liar Pants on Fire Mr. President.

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- Grace1798
  Posted on January 10, 2013 at 9:59am
  1 John 3:10
  By this it is made clear who take their nature from God and are His children and who take their nature from the devil and are his children: no one who does not practice righteousness [who does not conform to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action] is of God; neither is anyone who does not love his brother (his fellow believer in Christ).
  1 John 3:9-11 (in Context) 1 John 3 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
  
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Desert Dog
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 9:28am
He should use a stack of blank Executive Orders.

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toledofan
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 9:28am
It’s just amazing, I heard Rush label the Obama voters and supporters as low information voters, and at first as I thought it was funny, the more I thought about it, he’s hit the nail right on the head. Everything the left does is about appearance with vitually no substance. Even if you consider the actions of King and Lincholn, for Obama to compare himself to those two men, it’s a sham, but, to many it’s like OMG this man is just ready to do whatever it takes to help us poor people go through our lifes journey for free. I think low information voters is jsut about right.

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THX-1138
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 9:26am
i·ro·ny
noun
1. Using Lincolins bible to swear in a president who’s sole aim is to sell the American People into Slavery.

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- RajCaj
  Posted on January 10, 2013 at 9:28am
  2. Critical Race Theorist using Martin Luther King Jr.’s Bible to be sworn in on the anniversary of his “I have a Dream” speech
  
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Grace1798
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 9:23am
Anyone who reelected Obama are NOT true Christians. No follower of God’s Word would deliberately vote for an administration that supports ABORTION, Gay Marriage, hate and destruction against ISRAEL and help and money going to Al Qaeda and the enemies of USA. Billions are going to our enemies and now you saw Al Gore selling his CURRENT television network to the Arabs who hate YOU and this country. Not to mention how Obama has come out and stated this is NOT a Christian Nation. What kind of a Christian voted for this evil? What will be your answers when you stand before God and those babies you voted to be slaughtered? Or the money going to our enemies which is resulting in the Great persecution of many Christians even now and more which will happen in this country as they gain power. I cannot judge you or anyone but you know God will and He will hold you accountable according to his Word.

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- TheCalmOne
  Posted on January 10, 2013 at 2:12pm
  Have you heard of the “No True Scotsman” fallacy?
  
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YourVoiceMatters
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 9:22am
obama Giving the appearance of something he clearly IS NOT……
honest ….
Martin Luther King Jr?
P-L-E-A-S-E in reverse maybe!
Just because something appears a certain way does not mean it is….
Sorry i will be missing that dog and pony show!

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hi
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 9:21am
As much as I cannot stand the racist commie, at least he is not swearing in on a Mormon bible.

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fastgen1
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 9:17am
This pretender pres has done more to set race relations back than any one think I can think of. The symbolism I see from the Lincoln example is Civil war, which could easily happen if he continues to push for gun control. Not a good time to be in America.

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kaitscoffee
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 9:12am
I’m so sick of this man! It infuriates me that he’s saying his oath of office on a stack of Bibles when I know he despises and probably even mocks the words in them! He needs to say his oath of office with the Bible opened to the Ten Commandments!

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RajCaj
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 9:09am
Anyone else find it interesting that a Critical Race Theorist is using MLK’s bible to be sworn in, on the anniversary of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech?

That speech was about dissolving the perception (and inequities associated) of race, and to view others according to their character, not the color of their skin. Yet, CRT states that different races should be treated differently. Obama’s Harvard professor (and mentor) Derrick Bell said himself that MLK’s civil rights movement was a crock.

For shame!

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cassandra
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 9:09am
he has the nerve to put his hand on a bible while he voted 4 times to allow partial birth abortions, endorses gay marriage ? Abe and MLK would be disgusted by this fraud

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tommytruck
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 9:08am
I’m sorry – the first and only thing I could think when I saw this tripe is: “F-Obama.” Dude needs to keep his ass of my block.

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grimjack3791
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 9:06am
It’s not about who previously owned a Bible, it is about the words inside that matter.

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TheePolitinator
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 9:06am
Wow, I would not even think of comparing him to MLK ever. Not even close in ideology. MLK is rolling in his grave at this insult.

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GB10977
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 9:05am
I would rather he should use the Quran (Muslim bible) maybe then he’ll take the oath seriously.
Oh wait! You’re allowed to swear lies to infidels.

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wkw58
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 8:51am
Well la-de-fricken-da. Whose Koran is he using in the ceremony that’ll be held in private?

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GuruMeditation
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 8:46am
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

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KidCharlemagne
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 8:41am
“Obama used the Lincoln Bible while taking the oath four years ago — the first time it had been used since the 16th president’s inauguration in 1861.”
========================

I don’t guess that Obama has actually ever read Lincoln’s 1st Inaugural speech then:

———
“I understand a proposed amendment to the Constitution—which amendment, however, I have not seen—has passed Congress, to the effect that the Federal Government shall never interfere with the domestic institutions of the States, including that of persons held to service….[H]olding such a provision to now be implied constitutional law, I have no objection to its being made express and irrevocable.”
Lincoln’s 1st Inaugural Address, March 4, 1861

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Frederick_Douglass_Republican
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 8:38am
That black communist is no Lincoln

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fancydancy
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 8:38am
BOTH Lincoln and Martin Luther King were REPUBLICANS!!! That’s a twist not mentioned.

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IndyGuy
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 8:37am
“one owned by Martin Luther King Jr. and one by Abraham Lincoln”…While standing atop the MLK statue…

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azghost
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 8:35am
I admired MLK very much he had it right, I also admired and respected black people because they went through so much, since Mr Obama became president, I have lost a lot of respect! More and more each passing day!

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